A GANG of teenage boys beat up a taxi driver in a "vile" racist attack.

Police, who are treating the attack as a hate crime, are now appealing for witnesses to catch the seven youths who left the driver needing hospital treatment.

The attack happened just before 1pm on Saturday on Kenyon Way when the gang began throwing stones at the windscreen of his car.

The taxi driver pulled over and asked the group to stop throwing the stones.

The teenagers hurled racist abuse at him before picking up sticks and attacking him, hitting him across his face, arms and legs forcing him to the floor.

The driver, from Bolton, managed to get up and flee the youths, who chased after him, and run to his taxi and drive off.

The victim suffered cuts and bruising to his lower back and face and required hospital treatment.

The attackers are said to be seven white teenage boys who were wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts.

PC Daniel Marshall, of GMP’s Salford district, said: "Incidents of this nature will never be tolerated in our communities, and we are doing everything we can to find those responsible for this vile attack.

"We have been carrying out a number of lines of enquiries since this incident and we are now appealing for the public’s help.

"If you were in the area at the time and you saw anything then please get in touch with police as soon as possible.

Anyone with any information about the assault should contact police on 0161 856 2836 quoting incident number 1132 of 06/04/19.

Information can be passed on anonymously by calling the independent charity Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.